Defeating Distractions: Making Technology More Productive For Business

The principle idea for any technology is to make things easier. From the earliest stone tools to the latest software program, every piece of technology exists for efficiency. However, in recent years, it’s fair to say that technology has also become a distraction. In today’s guide, we’re going to go through a few ways you can stop those distractions and remain productive with tech. Let’s take a closer look.

Choose wisely

There are millions of technology products out there that all claim to make our lives easier. But given that no two businesses are the same, it makes sense that not all tech is suitable for all. It’s easy to get sucked into the marketing spiel of a product, but you have to ask if it is worth it. Take project management software as an example. Programs like JIRA are fantastic tools for big businesses, but they are also incredibly complicated and can get unwieldy. If you are a startup or small business, you might be better off with other options. Even post-it notes have their merits against a vast, complicated project management system.

Free up your time

The best technology for any job is the one that needs little set-up, maintenance, and configuration. Take the cloud, for example. It has been an excellent platform for improving things for business in this area. It gives you a lot of resources without the need to build anything out yourself. Of course, there will be times when your business relies on more complicated systems. But instead of dealing with it in-house, finding an Information Technology partner to look after it can be beneficial. The point is, if a technology is simple for you to use, then invest in it. If it is complicated but essential, outsource it.

Track everything

Measuring is essential if you want to get the most out of your technology. Let’s turn our eyes to the role of social media in business as an example. Now, there are plenty of companies out there who refuse to allow their employees access to social media. But does this mean those employees will be more productive? According to many different studies, maybe not. Sometimes, employees who can spend five minutes catching up with friends work a lot harder than those that do not. In other words, distractions can sometimes be a good thing for your employees. But the only way of telling is to track their productivity. Businesses need to be agile about the products they use, and what they expect of their employees. Measuring the use of time in the business is the only way to make those decisions more efficient.

Improve company communications

One of the biggest modern distractions around is the constant stream of emails, messages, and notifications we get. It’s something that affects everyone – not just businesses. The trick for business owners is to lay the foundations for smarter, more efficient communications. Make sure that employees understand that sending emails every five minutes doesn’t help anyone. You can also offer them the chance to use distraction blocking apps so they can focus on the task at hand.